China will wage an unceasing fight against separatism in its restive mountainous region of Tibet, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) said, as the government repeated it would never accept exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s autonomy proposals.
This year marks several sensitive anniversaries for the remote region that China has ruled since 1950, when Chinese Communist Party troops marched in and took control in what Beijing calls a “peaceful liberation.”
It is 50 years since China established what it calls the Tibet Autonomous Region and also sees the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following an abortive uprising.
At a two-day conference this week of the senior leadership about Tibet, only the sixth ever held, Xi repeated the government’s standard opposition to Tibetan independence.
Xi said he would fight an “unswerving anti-separatism battle,” state media said in comments reported late on Tuesday.
“We should fight against separatist activities by the Dalai group,” Xi was quoted as saying.
The Dalai Lama denies seeking independence, saying he only wants autonomy for Tibet, something he calls the “middle way” and which Beijing says is merely a smokescreen for independence, saying that Tibet already has genuine autonomy.
An accompanying commentary published by the Chinese United Front Work Department, which has led unsuccessful on-off talks with the Dalai Lama’s envoys, said the government had not accepted, and would never accept, the middle way.
The middle way seeks to cleave off one-quarter of China, as it would include historic parts of Tibet in neighboring Chinese provinces, the commentary, carried on the department’s WeChat account, said.
“The so-called middle way is in essence a splittist political demand,” it said.
Activists say China has violently tried to stamp out religious freedom and culture in Tibet. China rejects the criticism, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region.
Xi called for efforts to promote “patriotism among the Tibetan Buddhist circle and effectively manage monasteries in the long run, encouraging interpretations of religious doctrines that are compatible with a socialist society,” according to state media.
There should also be more campaigns to promote ethnic unity and promote a sense “of belonging to the same Chinese nationality,” he added.
Tibet remains under heavy security, with visits by foreign media tightly restricted, making an independent assessment of the situation difficult.
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